Beltane
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Beltane is the Gaelic May Day festival. It traditionally begins on the eve of April 30th and goes through May 1st, it’s midway between the spring equinox and summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The festival name is synonymous with the month marking the start of summer in Gaelic Ireland.
Beltane is a Celtic word, meaning “the fires of Bel.” Bel likely referred to the Celtic sun god, Belenus. The Celts used to light two bonfires because they believed it would purify themselves, as well as increase their fertility.
Beltane celebrates the beginning of summer and the potent fertility of nature. Nature is currently brimming with life, but has not reached its full potential.
Common customs of Beltane include making garlands of flowers, gathering friends, and feasting. In the later years, dancing around a maypole became a custom. It was also known to be a time of heightened sensuality, where young couples would make love in the woods on this night.
Greeting Spring With Fire
I am Swedish, and Beltane has always been greeted with fire. Being in the more northern location of the world, there weren’t the lovely little flowers and warm, soft spring breezes at this time, like in the United Kingdom.
In Sweden, bonfires are lit at dusk, and people gather to experience that rosy red glow on their faces from the heat of the fire and the cold at the back. The spring sun may keep people warm, but the nights are still chilly when it sets.
In the Nordic Futhark, the Ken Rune represents both fire and strength. The Futhark was both a means of communication and divination. It embodies the energy of sexuality, understanding, and action.
A dish to warm you up at a time like this is nettle soup. Nettles are, of course, a weed. They quickly appear when the snow melts, contain large amounts of iron, and are best when young and fresh.
You can use your fire for magical goals, The easiest way is by placing herbs or plant materials in the fire to burn. Choose the items that represent your goal. Then, as the smoke moves out from the point, it carries your wish with it. You can add herbs to fillable tea bags, or wrap them in tiny wrapping paper gift packets that represent your goals:
- Safe Pregnancy: Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Lavender, Rose petals, Mugwort, Jasmine oil
- Enhancing Psychic Awareness: Bay, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Yarrow
- Exploring the Astral through Dreams: Clary Sage, Hops, Jasmine Oil
- Love: Rose Petals
- Health: Strawberries
- Purification: Orange Peel
- Protection: Cloves
- Creativity & Fertility: Pomegranate Seeds
- Longevity: Sage
- Men: Strength, Protection, Courage, Profound Transformation, Change & Stepping Up: Frankincense, Cinnamon, Dried Orange Peels, Thyme
As with any magic, fire is but you; you are still the enabler. Please be careful and wise. Let your fires burn slowly, and tend them well so they don’t go out, or spark something you do not intend. Black Pepper fuels creativity, passion, and ambition. Use it during Beltane rituals to ignite your inner fire.
Seasonal Activities
Spring is a wonderful time for a Hedge Witch to nurture nature. Bees are very important in our ecosystem, so much so that it has been determined that if they disappear, so will human beings. I believe it is our responsibility as knowledgeable beings to do what we can to support every aspect of the natural world that we can. The natural world has supported us even through the times when the unenlightened practices its destruction upon it. I believe every way that we can counter and balance out that destruction aids in the restoration of the power of the natural world. The small way that I like to contribute to it is to keep bees and to plant the blooms that the bees love. My flower beds are filled with wildflowers, and I plant more every season. This year, I have the opportunity to expand my flower beds and vegetable gardens. I have a big package of Bee Wild Flower seeds to plant. You can plant some too. Even if you don’t have a large space, you can toss seeds in ditches and spaces that are neglected. Not only will the bees appreciate you, but the neighbors may appreciate you as well.
Supplies
Please, leave a comment and let me know if you have tried any of the magical goal combinations above or planted wildflowers for the bees.
I Bless You,
Kirsten the Cottage Hedge Witch
- The Magic of Bees and Enchanted Honey: Nature’s Sacred Gifts
- Compassion in the Coop: A Guide to Ethically Raising Chickens
- Birch Sap Foraging: A Simple Guide from Hedge Witch Cottage
- Green Alchemy: Transforming Soil with the Magic of Cover Crops
- How to Grow Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. I will receive a small commission if you purchase as a result of clicking one of these links. There is no additional cost to you.
